Our Bags Are Packed - We're Ready to go!

Since booking the Queen Elizabeth there has been 18 months of excitement, hesitation, trepidation, planning, planning, planning not to mention shopping, shopping, shopping.  Shopping for that little black dress, evening gowns for formal night not to mention shoes, handbags, mal-de-mer remedies and all things in between for 74 days of sailing, wining and dining and new experiences.  We have no doubt bored our friends to tears talking about this cruise and now it is time to bore them with our travels.  

We've said our fond farewells to family and friends, over indulged on many occasions, had BIG hugs and kisses from our beautiful granddaughter, Georgia.  Although I'm feeling quite sad at saying bye bye to our gorgeous, although small, family to be known as CJG (Chelsea Jon Georgia) there is rising excitement about things to come.  This is the adventure of a life time.  Hopefully it will be repeated but one never knows what is waiting around the next corner but I think there will be many more sailing adventures to be had - maybe not for quite as long though.   Although 3 months now seems like an eternity I'm sure at the end of this adventure we'll be asking where the time went.

After a farewell dinner with friends in Sydney it was time tfir BC to get those cases across the road to the airport.  Boarded our flight, strapped in and ready for take off when our Captain announced there'd been an altercation between 2 passengers over seating.  We were upstairs in the A380 so could not see what was happening.  Finally the passenger, and  baggage, was removed from the aircraft and we set to go just over an hour late.

An uneventful flight to Hong Kong with no turbulence at all, a few hours wait and onwards we go arriving Heathrow 4.45am.  First plane is so no queues at the immigration hall and no one on duty at the customs hall.  Time for a decent coffee before meeting our driver and journey down to Southampton.  Arriving at the Grand Harbour Hotel, Southampton at 7.30am we expected to be lolling around the foyer for a good few hours but thankfully the receptionist took pity on us and gave us a room straight away.  Thank you Grand Harbour Hotel.

Being all geared up to board our Queen at 12.30 Saturday we were informed by Cunard, that, due to the high winds off the Scottish/English coast, and the QE sailing from her journey to Hamburg,  she would be docking around 6 hours late which is now going to delay our departure.  But, hey, what's 6 hours when you have 74 days ahead of you??!!!

Here it is Saturday morning. Embarkation Day, and we've been awake since 3.30am!  Is it excitement or us it jet lag?  We met a few of our travelling companions last night, and no doubt will meet a few more as today, Saturday progresses.  Two bottles of Veuve Cliquot are ready to be chilled once we board, along with the Whiskey and Brandy for occasional, or nightly, night caps.  I guess it will all seem real once we first set sight on that beautiful red funnel at a Southampton dock later today.

For those of you who are new to our travels, the little fellow on the bag below is our travel companion-mascot, Bazza. He was given to us by close friends a few years ago and now accompanies us on our adventures.  Bazza has a habit of photo bombing many of our pics.

So, our next adventure is only hours away.  Hopefully we will sail at 10pm tonight but we are in the hands of the weather Gods and it is all about safety.

Goodbye 2014 and Hello 2015

Well, 2014 is almost coming to a close for us in the Land Downunder and we'll soon be popping those corks.   A new chapter is soon to begin.

2014 has seen many highs and lows.  I guess the tone for 2014 was set when we boarded our Virgin Atlantic flight from London to Sydney around 10pm last New Years Eve and no acknowledgment was made to 2013 coming to an end.  The usual complimentary glass of French Champagne was offered to those of sitting in the area just as you turn right (oh, to be turning left), but that is normal practise.  In fac, the Flight Attendants appeared surlier than ever.  Maybe they were missing out on a great party somewhere!  Come midnight David, now to be referred to as BC - Bag Carrier - and I quietly toasted each other with a Cognac.  Not another sound from the other 50 or so passengers in our cabin. 

That is how 2014 began and the tone was set.

I couldn't say it was a particularly bad year for us - the passing of an elderly aunt, losing one of my closest friends after a short illness and parents of close friends passing are pretty much the norm when you hit that certain age but it is still very difficult when it happens - especially a close friend!

We did get to strike a few things off the bucket list.  Finally exploring Tasmania, and making the 12 hour crossing of the Bass Strait, was one of them.  Taking our first ever big ship cruise - a 9 day excursion of the Baltics - followed up by a 23 day river cruise from the Black Sea to the North Sea another two off the list.  Our river cruise began just outside of Bucharest then headed down the Danube to where it runs into the Black Sea before back up stream.  If you have never experienced this journey I strongly suggest you do.  We ventured into countries we would probably not spend time in.  Croatia is now a country on our to do list and so is a driving holiday following the Danube for as far as we can.

2015 is beginning with a dinner party on our balcony and watching the fireworks break over a building about 200 metres across the park.  Canberra lights up with a short burst at 9pm for the kids, and those big kids who can't make it to midnight, and a 20 minute display at midnight.  We record the Sydney fireworks to play back at the end of ours.

With just over a week to our next big adventure - 74 days of cruising 2/3 of the world, wining, dining, meeting new friends and experiencing many parts of the world we have not explored (we won't mention the possible mal de mer for which I have every form of medication possible) the excitement is mounting.  

Four suitcases and two carry ons are almost packed.  Only last minute bits and pieces to go in.  BC still thinks I don't need 3 bulging suitcases - he claims to not even having a full one.   Men just don't seem to understand our need for a variety of evening gowns - after all we have sooooo many formal nights - cocktail dresses, shoes for different outfits, casual day wear, handbags etc etc not to mention all we need to keep looking glamorous!!!!  Yes, I know!  There are shops at every port but we do have 8 nights at sea without a shop in sight - except for those expensive designer shops on board!

May all my friends who are following this blog on Facebook, and my new friends I have not yet had the pleasure to meet but who are following blogspot, have a safe and happy new year and may travel and exploring new places always be part of your life.

A selfie taken in the Christmas light display last week.

Best wishes

Christine and David

2 Weeks and we'll be sailing!

Christmas Almost Over (for another year)

Yes, I know, this should be a travel blog but still have 2 weeks until we depart Sydney so these next blogs are more about getting used the this complicated blog spot.

So, for us in Australia, it is Christmas Day night after having eaten and drank ourselves  into a food coma.  Well, I tried to be good, well as good as possible.

Now, you will all soon be used to the names Chelsea, Jon and Georgia, my little family.  When you have only one child you can become a little obsessive so I guess that's me.  Anyway, Chelsea made the decision to 'do' Christmas in their new home (a 15 min drive from our apartment in Canberra).  We planned  the menus, did the shopping and all was going to plan -.that is until her silly mummy bought bunches of holly and leaves to give a Christmassie feel, left them for her to put in a vase.  A few hours later I receive a call to say she had 5 stitches in her right pointer finger.  She tried to trim the stems with scissors.  Too tough so rather than ask Jon, husband, to cut the stems she decided to use a serrated bread knife.  Now, we are talking about a reasonable baby intelligent 30 year old, left handed woman!  So, a rush trip to the local medical centre to repair the damage!

Suffice it to say old mums here was left to do all the food prep and cooking!  Instead of going over for a BBQ at 7pm on Christmas Eve it was a hurry over before 5pm to help out (we were having a sleep over).  Luckily she has a very supportive husband who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty.  (I have to say that as they will probably read this blog haha).  Meanwhile Chels is walking round with her pointer heavily bandaged and sticking up in the air and us making jokes about hiding the knives away from her.

Anyway, our well planned Christmas slipped by the wayside a bit with daughter giving mum directions, poor David driving back to our apartment to bring bits and pieces back that were forgotten but in the end it all came together and Christmas lunch was superb - not at all traditional - but a more Australian meal beginning with a starter of prawns, mango and avocado in a coriander and chillie dressing followed by Tasmanian salmon, baked ham and various salads and too many desserts to mention.

Boxing Day will be one of high intensity and a tradition of many Australians - plonking yourself in front of the tellie to flick between the Boxing Day Test (cricket for the uninitiated) and the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, gorge on left overs and promise to never eat a bite of turkey ever again.

Good night all and safe travels over the festive season.

Itinerary Queen Elizabeth World Cruise Segment Southampton to Hong Kong.

2015 QE WORLD CRUISE ITINERARY

Cruise Day	Date	Port	Arrival/Departure Times	Comments/Suggestions
1	10 Jan 2015	Southampton	1800	EMBARKATION Ocean Terminal
2	11 Jan 2015	At Sea		CC MEET & GREET 1:15PM FORMAL BLACK & WHITE BALL
3	12 Jan 2015	At Sea		FORMAL:  LONDON BALL
4	13 Jan 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
5	14 Jan 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
6	15 Jan 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
7	16 Jan 2015	At Sea		FORMAL:  STARLIGHT BALL
8	17 Jan 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
9	18 Jan 2015	New York	0700-1830	Dock: Manhattan     INFORMAL
10	19 Jan 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
11	20 Jan 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
12	21 Jan 2015	Fort Lauderdale	0700-1830	Pier 21     INFORMAL
13	22 Jan 2015	Nassau, Bahamas	0900-1700	Pier ?    INFORMAL
14	23 Jan 2015	At Sea		CC MEET & GREET 1:15PM FORMAL:  CUNARD BALL
15	24 Jan 2015	At Sea		FORMAL
16	25 Jan 2015	Curacao	0900-1700	Pier ?    INFORMAL:  BURNS NT
17	26 Jan 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
18	27 Jan 2015	Panama Canal Transit	0600-1600	INFORMAL
19	28 Jan 2015	At Sea		FORMAL
20	29 Jan 2015	Puntarenas, Costa Rica	0700-1700	Puntarenas Dock     INFORMAL
21	30 Jan 2015	At Sea		FORMAL
22	31 Jan 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
23	01 Feb 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
24	02 Feb 2015	Cabo San Lucas, Mexico	0800-1800	Tender     INFORMAL

2015 QE WORLD CRUISE ITINERARY

 

Cruise Day	Date	Port	Arrival/Departure Times	Comments/Suggestions
25	03 Feb 2015	At Sea		FORMAL:  STARLIGHT BALL
26	04 Feb 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
27	05 Feb 2015	Los Angeles, CA US	0900-1700	Pier ?    INFORMAL
28	06 Feb 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
29	07 Feb 2015	San Francisco, CA US	Arrive 0700- overnight	Pier 35     INFORMAL
30	08 Feb 2015	San Francisco, CA US	Depart -2000	Pier 35     INFORMAL
31	09 Feb 2015	At Sea		CC MEET & GREET 1:15PM FORMAL:  CUNARD BALL
32	10 Feb 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
33	11 Feb 2015	At Sea		FORMAL:  MASQUERADE BALL
34	12 Feb 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
35	13 Feb 2015	Honolulu, Oahu US	0900-1800	Pier ?    INFORMAL
36	14 Feb 2015	Lahaina, Maui US	0800-1700	Tender FORMAL:  VALENTINES
37	15 Feb 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
38	16 Feb 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
39	17 Feb 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
40	18 Feb 2015	At Sea		FORMAL:  HAWAIIAN BALL
41	19 Feb 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
42	20 Feb 2015	Pago Pago, American Samoa	0800-1600	Main Pier     INFORMAL
43	21 Feb 2015	Cross International Dateline		THE DAY THAT DOESN’T EXIST
44	22 Feb 2015	Apia, Western Samoa	0800-1800	Matautu Pier     INFORMAL
45	23 Feb 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
46	24 Feb 2015	Nuku’alofa, Tonga	0800-1700	Tender     INFORMAL
47	25 Feb 2015	At Sea		FORMAL:  NEPTUNE’S BALL
48	26 Feb 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL

2015 QE WORLD CRUISE ITINERARY

Cruise Day	Date	Port	Arrival/Departure Times	Comments/Suggestions
49	27 Feb 2015	Auckland, NZ	0700-1800	Queens Wharf     INFORMAL
50	28 Feb 2015	Bay Of Islands, NZ	0800-1700	Tender     INFORMAL
51	01 Mar 2015	At Sea		FORMAL:  BLACK & WHITE
52	02 Mar 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
53	03 Mar 2015	Sydney, NSW AUST	Arrive 0600 - overnight	White Bay     INFORMAL
54	04 Mar 2015	Sydney, NSW AUST	Depart - 2100	White Bay     INFORMAL
55	05 Mar 2015	At Sea		CC MEET & GREET 1:15PM INFORMAL
56	06 Mar 2015	Brisbane, QLD AUST	0900-1900	Fisherman’s Grain Terminal INFORMAL
57	07 Mar 2015	At Sea		FORMAL:  AUSTRALIAN BALL
58	08 Mar 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
59	09 Mar 2015	Cairns, QLD AUST	0600-1900	Tender     INFORMAL
60	10 Mar 2015	At Sea		FORMAL:  LADIES NIGHT BALL
61	11 Mar 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
62	12 Mar 2015	Rabaul, PNG	0800-1700	Tender     INFORMAL
63	13 Mar 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
64	14 Mar 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
65	15 Mar 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
66	16 Mar 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
67	17 Mar 2015	At Sea		FORMAL:  ST. PATRICK’S BALL
68	18 Mar 2015	Yokohama, JPN	0730-1700	Osanbashi Pier     INFORMAL
69	19 Mar 2015	At Sea		FORMAL:  MADAME BUTTERFLY
70	20 Mar 2015	Nagasaki, JPN	0900-1800	Pier  ?   INFORMAL
71	21 Mar 2015	Busan, S.KOREA	0600-1700	ICT     INFORMAL
72	22 Mar 2015	At Sea		FORMAL:  ROARING TWENTIES

 

2015 QE WORLD CRUISE ITINERARY

Cruise Day	Date	Port	Arrival/Departure Times	Comments/Suggestions
73	23 Mar 2015	Shanghai, CHN	0500-2000	Wusongkou Term.     INFORMAL
74	24 Mar 2015	At Sea		INFORMAL
75	25 Mar 2015	Hong Kong	Arrive 1800 - overnight	Ocean Terminal